12 new Indian investments in France recorded in 2015

In the backdrop of the ongoing global Creative France campaign, Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, released the 2015 Annual Report: Foreign investment in France, which analyzes foreign investment decisions in France and their contribution to the French economy. The report reveals that there are over 120 Indian companies operating in France, where they employ more than 7,000 people.

According to the 2015 Annual Report: Foreign investment in France, of the total Indian investments in France in 2015,

42% were in production/manufacturing operations

33% were in business services and 17% in decision-making centers

17% were in energy, recycling, other concessions

More than 1/3 was in energy (17%) and aerospace, naval and railway equipment (17%)

Some of the main Indian investment projects in France in 2015 include:

AEQUS, a Belagavi-based company specializing in developing and producing engineering solutions for the aerospace, automotive and oil & gas sectors, acquired the Besançon site of the French company Sira, an aerospace component manufacturer that had gone into liquidation.

Further to this acquisition, in January 2016, Aequs wholly acquired Sira, which operates six sites in France and one in Morocco. Aequs employs 320 people.

WPIL, a Kolkata-based company, manufactures pumps used in water distribution systems and nuclear infrastructure, among other applications. It acquired the French company Pompes Rutshi, based in Mulhouse. Pompes Rutshi, an active player in the design and manufacture of high-tech pumps for the oil, gas and nuclear sectors, has a 40-strong workforce.

DNP INTERNATIONAL, a Surat-based company which designs and produces analysis instruments for use in industry (quality tests in industrial processes) and sustainable development (environmental impact measurements, pollution control), acquired the Grenoble-based firm Tethys, which employs 10 people.

Twelve new investments from India were recorded in 2015, creating or maintaining 290 jobs.

«“2015 witnessed a renewed emphasis on Indo-French investment as both countries shared a common vision of manufacturing excellence and energy efficiency. With the help of the Creative France campaign, Business France was able to enhance its outreach to India and foster long-lasting ties with some of the most renowned names in innovation and sustainable development,” commented Muriel Pénicaud, France’s Ambassador for International Investment and CEO of Business France.»

In addition to these five companies, one could equally mention the investments in France of groups such as: Infosys, Wipro, Bharat Forge, Muragappa, United Phosphorus, Crompton Greaves (Avantha Group), Titagarh, Air Works, Biological E, Transasia, Axis Aerospace, etc.

«“These investments highlight the attractiveness of France for Indian investors who leverage the expertise, competencies and creativity they acquire in France, in order to increase significantly their contribution to the “ Make in India” initiative. One of the main assets of France for Indian investors is its state-of-the-art facilities in innovation and R&D,” said François Richier, Ambassador of France to India.»

The 2015 Annual Report: Foreign investment in France released yesterday analyzes foreign investment decisions in France and their contribution to the French economy. In 2015, 962 investment decisions created or maintained 33,682 jobs, the best figure in the last five years. With an average of 19 decisions made every week, 2015 saw a 27% increase in jobs generated by foreign investment, up from 26,535% in 2014.

Foreign investments were received from 53 different countries in 2015, up from 47 in 2014: those from European countries remained predominant (60% of all foreign investment decisions), followed by North America (22%) and Asia (13%), in very similar proportions to 2014. The leading source countries were the United States (18%), accounting for one-quarter of all inward R&D investments; Germany (15%), accounting for 26% of all foreign production/manufacturing projects; Italy (9%), providing 31% of inward investment in logistics; the United Kingdom (8%), accounting for 22% of all foreign investment in retail outlets; and Japan (6%), the fourth leading source of foreign production/manufacturing investment. BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China) accounted for 7% of inward investments in France (68 investment decisions), including 44 projects from China and Hong Kong. Project numbers were up for many source countries, including Canada (38 projects, +31%), the Netherlands (37 projects, +12%), and Ireland (15 projects, +114%).

France’s thriving regions and cities are often a decisive factor in attracting foreign investment to all of France’s regional economies. Ile-de-France (Paris region), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine attracted more than half of all foreign investment decisions. The leading regions by jobs created or maintained were Ile-de-France (Paris region), Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie, Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Foreign companies currently generate 32% of French exports. Figures from the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) show that more than one-quarter of foreign-owned company turnover in France was generated through exports in 2015, compared to 31% in the United States, 21% in Germany, 25% in the Netherlands, 15% in the United Kingdom, and 30% in Japan.

About Business France

Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France.

It promotes France’s companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and also runs the VIE international internship program.

Founded on January 1, 2015 through a merger between UBIFRANCE and the Invest in France Agency, Business France has 1,500 personnel, both in France and in 70 countries throughout the world, who work with a network of public- and private-sector partners.